Island



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

OLIVER A. KELLY, OF WOONSOOKET, IRI-IODEL ISLAND.

LOOM.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,252, dated November 22, 1853.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER A. KELLY, of lVoonsocket, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in of the loom; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the.

same; Fig. 3, a front elevation of the lay with the shuttle boxes andthe balance beam on which they rest; Fig. 4, a top view of the mechanismwhich determines the changes in position of the shuttle boxes, certainsliding devices being at the extreme of their left hand movement; Fig.5, a similar view, those parts which in the last ligure are shown at theextreme left being in this represented at the` extreme right; Fig. 6, avertical section. of the changing mechanism at the line a" m of Fig. 4t;and Fig. '7 a like section of the same at the line j# :#z.

My invention and improvements relate to the mechanism for raising andlowering a series of shuttle boxes, and for varying the order ofthrowing the shuttles as may be required to form the figure orornamental device on the cloth.

The` first part ofmy invention consists of a combination of levers withan elastic or spring connecting rod, the same being actu.-

ated by a tappet wheel, whereby the shuttle boxes are raised and loweredby a mechanism that will yield, with a view to avoid the breakage thatso frequently results from the employment of a positive motion for thispurpose.

The second part of my invention consists in balancing the two series ofshuttle boxes on a lever pivoted to the lay so that however heavy theymay be it is only necessary to employ power equal to overcoming theirinertia on their momentum to move them or to arrest their motion.

The third part of my invention consists of a cylinder whose periphery isperforated with numerous rows of holes parallel to its axis; everyalternate row of holes being fit-ted with pins, and designed to changethe position of the intermediate rows, with reference toy a pin on alever that effects the changes of the shuttles, when the holes determinewhat those changes shall be.

The fourth part of my invention consists of a mechanism which I term arack-cylinder for giving to the pattern or perforated cylinder justreferred to, a longitudinal reciprocating mot-ionto bring each of itsholes in succession into the proper position to perform its functio-n.

The fifth part of my invention consists of the Acombination of a seriesof equidistant pins or teeth on the end of the pattern cylinder with Yaloose wheel on the axis of the rack-cylinder, whereby the axial motionof the pattern and rack-cylinder is reversed at each extremity of theirvibrations.

The sixth part of my invention consists of the method of uniting thepattern cylinder or its equivalent, with the rack cylinder or its,equivalent by a yielding o-r slip coupling substantially as specified,whereby all danger of breakage is avoided by the slipping of thecoupling when the strain becomes too great.

The seventh part of my invention consists of the method of working thesame row of holes in the pattern cylinder to the right and left insuccession, in case the cylinder should not have holes enough to workthe ornamental `design in the cloth by working the holes once, whereby afigure of considerable elaboration may be produced with a cylinder ofsmall size.

The frame (f of the loom as represent-ed in the drawing is of the usualform and proportions. The mechanism for supplying the warp, and takingup the woven cloth, and that for operating the harness and the pickers Ihave not represented, as my improvements do not relate to either ofthese parts.

The lay (B) is constructed in the manner in which drop-box lays as theyare termed usually are, and the shuttle boxes (C) at each end of therace (D) are fitted in guides in which they are free to slide up anddown, so as to bring any one of the series which is required to receiveor discharge a shuttle, opposite to the race board Each shuttlc-box issupported on a stem (B) that rests on a foot, which at one end isattached t-o, and at the other rests on the end of a balance beam (F)whose fulcrum is a pivot (G) on the middle of the foot rail (G) ofthelay. By this arrangement when the series of shuttle boxes at one endof the lay is raised the other series is lowered. The raising andlowering of the shuttle boxes is effected by a lever (H) hung on a pivot(H) at the side of the loom which derives its motion from a second lever(I) raised by tappets (i) on a disk (J) and descending by its ownweight. The cam lever (I) is pivoted at its front extremity to the sideof the loo-1n and near its rear extremity carries on a pivot projectingfrom its side a friction wheel (K) which runs upon the faces of thetappets and 2). This lever is connected to the lifting lever (H) by aspring (L) that tends constantly to pull the two levers together whichhowever it is prevented from accomplishing by a cross rod (M) which hasa stop nut to regulate the distance of the levers from each other. Thetension of the spring (L) is such that it will without expanding holdthe levers in position to perform the ordinary duty of elevating anddepressing the shuttle boxes, but if any obstruction should beinterposed to the raising or lowering of either series of shuttle boxes,then the spring will yield to allow the tappet (v) to pass the frictionwheel (K) without breaking anything.

- The disk (J) to which the tappets and i2) are affixed is mounted on apivot at the side of the frame; on the back of this disk a frictionbrake pulley is formed, or attached as shown by blue lines in F ig. 2 toprevent the disk from turning too easily. On the face of the disk anumber of long tappets and short tappets (i2) are secured. The longtappets have each a segment bored out of its edges adjacent to the nextshort tappets, of the proper size to receive the periphery of thelatter, so that when the long and short tappets are all secured to thedisk they shall mutually interlock and support each other, and althougheach one is attached to the disk by but one central pin (i3) yet itcannot be forced out of place without also displacing the adjacenttappets which make it as secure as if it were itself fastened by severalbolts instead of but one. The periphery of the disk is formed intonotches or ratchet teeth (a) corresponding in number to that of thetappets, so that as the disk is turned at intervals onetooth at a time,it will cause the tappets in succession to elevate or depress the wheel(K) and through it the intermediate levers and the shuttle boxes. Thedisk (J) is turned by means of a pawl (N) which is hinged to a bentupright lever pivoted to the side of the frame and turned in onedirection by a pair of wipers or tap pets (b and b) on the cam shaft (O)and in the other by its own weight, which cause it to vibrate every timethe lay beats; but the mere vibration of the pawl is not sufficient togive motion to the disk, as it strikes a stop (&) when about half itsmotion is complete, that arrests it and prevents it from hooking overanother tooth, and thus the pawl is kept working upon the same tooth,

and gives no motion to the disk until the stop is moved, when the pawlmakes a full stroke, catches another tooth, and turns the disk so as tomove one tappet out, and bring the next one into operation. As thismovement of the stop (&) must be effected every time a change in theposition of the shuttles is required to be made, and the stop must beallowed to remain undisturbed so long as changes in the position of theshuttle boxes are not required, I have contrived a mechanism forperforming this operation which moves the stop (&) or allows it toremain and arrest the pawl (N) as required. This mechanism operatesthrough a bent upright lever (P) pivoted to the side of the frame (A).This lever receives a constant vibratory motion from a spring (o) whichconstantly presses it in one direction, and a cam (Q) on the cam shaftwhich moves it in the opposite direction, these cause it to vibrate withhalf the frequency of the lay. The lower extremity of this lever isconnected by a rod (d) having a hooked end with the vertical arm (02) ofthe stop (V) which turns on a pivot (e) at the side of the loom, andwhose horizontal arm (c) except when lifted, is in the range of motionof a shoulder (f) on the pawl (N) so as to meet it. When the lower endof the lever (P) is permitted to move to the full range of its motiontoward the front/of the loom, the rod (ci) pulls the vertical arm (c2)of the stop (V) forward and raises its upper arm (c) so that it willpermit the pawl to move back to catch a tooth of the ratchet wheel lVhenthe lever (P) does not vibrate far enough to lift the catch (c) itnevertheless has a sufficient length of stroke given to it, to give aregular oscillating movement to a rock shaft with an arm (S) depending,from which it is connected by a rod (g). The upper extremity of thelever (P) is fitted with a pin 7') that passes through a guide (7L) andwhich is of such a size that it will readily pass into the large holes(2) in the periphery' of the hollow cylinder (T). 1V hen the pin passesinto one of these holes of the cylinder, it permits the lever to vibratea full stroke, raise the stop (0,) and allow the pawl (N) to reachforward and turn the tappet disk (J) to change the shuttle boxes. Allthe holes (2) in the cylinder (T) which it is required the pin (j) shallnot enter are plugged up with wooden pegs, so that the only holes leftopen are those required to effect the changes in the shuttle boxes, andas the holes (2) in the cylinder are in general equal to the wholenumber of the double throws of the shuttle necessary tov form the designor pattern required; all the* holes could be left open, and the stopwould be kept up at every movement of the pawl (N) and the shuttle boxeswould consequently be changing constantly. This is the eXtreme ofchange. By stopping less or more of the holes, the changes can berendered proportionally less or more frequent.

In order that the changes in the shuttles may be effected according tothe order determined by the plugging up of the cylinder, every hole (2)in the cylinder is brought in succession opposite the pin (j) which.enters the open holes and permits the lever (P) to make a longvibration, but is stopped by the plugs which thus shorten its vibration.The upright lever (P) is thus kept constantly oscillating withvibrations of unequal length, but every vibration whether long or shortis suiicient to communicate an oscillating movement to the rock shaft(R) which gives motion to the pawls, and the long vibrations which occuronly when the pin enters one of the holes (2), in addition to actuatingthev rock shaft, lift the stop (c) and permit the pawl (N) to turn theratchet wheel to change the position of the shuttle boxes.

The mechanism which determines the intervals and times of change of theposition of the shuttle boxes is mounted in the frame (U) secured to thetop of the loom frame. This mechanism is represented of about one halfthe linear dimensions of the full working size while the frame, shuttleboxes and lay are only about one sixth of the'linear dimensions of oneofV full size, this gives the changing mechanism a bulky and unwieldyappearance, while in point of fact it is an exceedingly compact andlminiature thing, vastly less than any other mechanism heretofore usedfor the purpose. The frame of this mechanism supports two parallelshafts (V) and (R) the former carries the perforated or pattern cylinder(T) and the rack cylinder (W) the former of which is keyed fast to it,but the latter is free to turn although prevented from movinglongitudinally by a toothed wheel (X) atl one end and a pin (712) at theother; a double ratchet (ai) is also mounted loosely on this shaftandheld in the end of the frame at which it. is mounted by a bearing thatpermits it to turn freely but prevents it from sliding with the shaft.The shaft (V) has a longitudinal reciprocating movement in its bearings,the range of which is equal to the length of the rows of holes (2) inthe pattern c ylinder (T) in order that every hole of each rowl by meansof this reciprocating motion may in succession be brought opposite thepawl (Z) and pin (j). This reciprocating motion of the shaft (V) withits cylinders as well as an intermittent rotary motion to be presentlydescribed are derived from the vibratory movement of the upright lever(P) through a link rod (g) which connects with an arm (S) of the rockshaft (R), and gives to the same an oscillating motion corresponding tothat of the lever (P). This rockshaft carries two arms (Y and Z) which Yproject upward, to each of these arms a pawl (Z) is jointed, whoseoffice it is at the proper time to turn the rack cylinder (W) throughthe intervention of the cylinder (T) and ratchet. wheel (m), an angulardistance equal to the length of the teeth of the racks (w) or of thespaces between the same. A fourth arm (m) projects downward from therock-shaft (R), to the lower extremity of this arm two pawls (m, m2) arejointed one (m) extending to a horizontal ratchet wheel (m3) on theupright shaft (m4), and the other (m2) to the corresponding ratchetwheel (m5) on the upright shaft (me), and as the reciprocating movementof the pawls turn these ratchet wheels, the upright shafts (m4 and me)are rotated in the same direc tio-n. Each of these ratchet wheels has aseries of notches (s) on its rim, into which a spring detent (t)presses, to prevent the retrograde movement of the pawls (m and m2) fromturning the wheels. The upper extremities of the shafts (m1L and me)have pinions (n and n) mounted on them the adjacent peripheries of whichmove in opposite directions as shown by the arrows (4). These pinionshave cogs to match those of the racks (fw) on the cylinder (WV) intowhich they gear alternately, that is one of them is at all times in gearwith one of the racks (fw) and the other is in the space or interval(wg) between the racks, therefore wherever a rack (w) is in gear withone pinion, the cylinder will be moved endwise in the opposite directionto that in which it will be moved when the other pinion is in gear withthe rack, as the cogs of the two pinions which respectively gear intothe racks move in opposite direction as they are turning on oppositesides of their respective shafts. It is obvious from this arrangementthat to reverse the longitudinal motion of the cylinder (W) it is onlynecessary at each extreme of its motion to turn it on its axis the widthof a rack (w) so as to throw the pinion which at the time is driven outof gear into a space (wg) and the pinion which was out of gear in aspace (Q02) into gear. This is effected when the rack cylinder (1V) atthe extremity of its range of motion in one direction is brought intocontact with the wheel by the rack teeth (m) on its side gearing into aprojecting tooth (m2) on the end of the cylinder, and turning thelatter, when the ratchetv wheel (fr) is turned by the pawl (Z) acting onits teeth The turning of the cylinder (WV) without turning the notcheddisk or wheel (X) is eected by the yielding of the spring detent or bolt(y) sufficiently to permit it to slip out of one of the series ofconical cavities (3/) in the side of the disk. The

turning of the shaft (V) and disk (X) by the pressure of the ratchetwheel in turning the rack cylinder is prevented by a spring detent (e)the rounded edge of which takes into the notchesof the disk (X), but

it is so roundedthat when a degree of pressure is applied tothe disk,beyond what is required to cause the detent (y) to slip, this detentwill also slip. Each of the ratchet wheels is lprovided with a similardetent which takes into notches on its periphery. When the rack cylinderapproaches the other extreme of its longitudinal motion, so as to carrythe pattern cylinder (T) to the greatest distance out from the frame(U), the row of pins (3) on the inner end of the cylinder will bebrought into range with the reciprocating pawl (Z), which will catch onone of the pins and turn the cylinder (T) with vits shaft (V) and thedisk (X) the proper distance to turn a rack out of gear with one of thepinions (n) and in gear with the other, the disk (X) transmits thismotion to the rack cylinder by one of its cavities 1/) acting upon thepin or detent (y), which will not slip with'the light pressure requiredto turn the racks, when all the mechanism is in proper order, but incase anything should be out of order or any obstruction in the way ofturning the rack, the detent (y) 'would slip, the'rigidity of the systembe interrupted and breakage prevented, which, would be inevitable, butfor some elastic compensation of this nature.l

In case the ornamental design being Woven, requires a change in theposition of the shuttle boxes more frequently t-han could be obtained byallowing the perforated cyl-v inder to traverse its entirelength in bothdirections, pins (5) are inserted in one of the holes (6) which whenbrought Within the range of thereciprocating pawl (Z) will engage withthe same and the cylinder will be turned and its motion reversed as itwould be at the end of the extreme range of motion of the cylinder. Bythis means the amount of longitudinal motion of the shaft (V) and itscylinders can be varied to any extent that may be required.

In order that the pattern cylinder (T) may not be moved during theentrance of the pin (j) on the lever (p) into any of the 'holes (Q) therod (g) is so constructed and arranged-that it only acts upon the arm(S) of the rockshaft when the upper extremity of the lever (P) is movingfrom the cylinder and the pin (j) has been withdrawn therefrom, themovement of the arm (S) and rockshaft (It) in the opposite directionbeing caused by a spring (q) and arrested by a stop (a) at the momentthe cylinder T has been turned the proper distance, while the lever Pmay continue to move forward by pushing the rod (g) through an openingin the bracket g4, until the pin j has reached the required position.

YVhen the rack cylinder is reversed by bringing it into contact with theratchet wheel or disk (m) this is effected without turning the cylinder(T) so that in case a vpin (5) is not placed so as to come within therange of motion of the pawl at the outer end, or between that and theinner end of the pattern cylinder, the same row of yholes (6) will becaused to traverse twice in succession in front ofthe pin (5) so thatthe same row is thus caused to perfom duty and repeat ,which addsgreatly to the capacity of the apparatus. Y

I have described the construction and operation of the mechanism which Ihave essayed for carrying into effect my improved method of changing theposition of the shuttle boxes, but it is obvious that much of it admitsof great variation in form and arrangement and many of the devices maybe substituted by other mechanical equivalents, and wherever changes ofthis nature are deemed for any causefexpedient I propose tomake them. For example a vibrating rack which when turned in one direction will gearwith a pinion that will move it to the right, and when turned in theother direction will gear with a pinion that will move it to the leftmay be substituted for the rack cylinder above described, and numerousother substitutes might in this way be adopted, for it is immaterialwhat mechanism is used provided the turning of the.

pattern cylinder will change the reciprocatmg rack gear in such manneras to reverse would not in any way change the principle of operation.

Having thus described my improved mechanism for shifting the shuttleboxes; what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The arrangement of levers herein described connected by a spring orelastic connecting rod, in combination with the tappet wheel, wherebyYthe shuttle boxes are raised and lowered by a yielding mechanism, whichdiminishes greatly the liability to breakage as herein specified.

2. The method of balancing the shuttle boxes on the lay. vin combinationwith mechanism for simultaneously raising one set, and depressing theother substantially as specified.

3. The reciprocating and rotating pattern cylinder in (combination withthe vibrating lever or the equivalent thereof for the pur-l pose ofrendering the intervals between the changes of the shuttles regular orirregular, substantially as herein set forth.

4t. The rack cylinder or the equivalent thereof in combination with thetwo pinions, and the mechanism for throwing them alternately into or outof gear or the equivalent thereof, whereby the racks are moved inalternately opposite directions with a variable range of motion asrequired for operating the pattern cylinder.

5. A series of pins or the equivalent thereof on the inner end of therows of holes in the pattern cylinder, a disk having a correspondingnumber of pins or teeth on its periphery, placed loosely on the axis ofthe rack cylinder, and the pawls which turn the disk and pins incombination with the rack cylinder whereby the latter is turned at eachextreme of its vibration, so as to throw one pinion out of gear with therack, and the other in, to reverse the motion.

6. The method of uniting the pattern cylinder or its equivalent, withthe rack cylinder or its equivalent by a yielding or slip couplingoperating substantially as specitied, whereby the danger of breaking thelneclianislnwhen it happens to become deranged is greatly lessened'.

T. The method of working the same row of holes in the pattern cylinderto the right- :find left in succession, in case the cylinder should nothave holes enough to work the ornamental design in the cloth by workingthe holes once only, whereby a cylinder of a given size will be capableof producing a much more elaborate design or larger figure than if theholes could be used but once in the production oi' the same figure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

OLIVER A. KELLY.

TWitnesses JOHN M. KUEGGER, IVM. HOLMES, Jr.

